Electronic receipt system

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a user identification module of an electronic receipt system in electronic communication with a point of sale terminal, a user identifier transmitted from a mobile communication device to a near-field communication enabled communication device associated with the point of sale terminal. The method also includes verifying, by a validation module of the electronic receipt system, an enrollment status of the user identifier; and based on results of the verifying, transmitting, by a transfer module of the electronic receipt system, the user identifier and data characterizing an electronic receipt to a receipt storage module of the electronic receipt system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic receipt system comprising:
 a point-of-sale (POS) terminal and a near-field communication (NFC) device associated with the POS terminal; and 
 a server in communication with said POS terminal and configured to
 receive from said POS terminal, a user identifier transmitted from a mobile communication device communicating via said NFC device, 
 verify an enrollment status of the user identifier received at said server, 
 when the enrollment status of the user identifier is not verified, generate a temporary user identifier to define the user identifier, 
 transmit the temporary user identifier to the mobile communications device via the NFC device and the POS terminal, 
 receive, from the POS terminal, an electronic receipt, 
 store one of the user identifier and the temporary user identifier, and the electronic receipt, and 
 receive, from a user and via a user interaction interface of the server, a request including one of the user identifier and the temporary user identifier to access the electronic receipt; 
 
 said POS terminal configured to provide a paper receipt with the temporary user identifier therein. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic receipt system of  claim 1  wherein said server is configured to store the electronic receipt in association with one of the user identifier and the temporary user identifier. 
     
     
       3. The electronic receipt system of  claim 1  wherein said server is configured to verify the enrollment status of the user identifier by at least:
 receiving a communication including the user identifier; 
 determining the enrollment status of the user identifier; and 
 transmitting a communication to the POS terminal indicative of the enrollment status of the user identifier. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic receipt system of  claim 1  wherein said server is configured to, based on the status of the user identifier, enable enrollment of the user identifier in the electronic receipt system. 
     
     
       5. The electronic receipt system of  claim 1  wherein said POS terminal is configured to transmit the user identifier and the electronic receipt by at least:
 generating a message including the user identifier and data associated with the electronic receipt; and 
 transmitting the message to the server. 
 
     
     
       6. The electronic receipt system of  claim 5  wherein the message is at least one of an XML message, a text format message, or an image. 
     
     
       7. The electronic receipt system of  claim 5 , wherein data associated with the electronic receipt include at least one of an identifier of a product, an identifier of a merchant, a date, a purchase price, and a receipt number. 
     
     
       8. An electronic receipt system comprising:
 a point-of-sale (POS) terminal and a near-field communication (NFC) device associated with the POS terminal; and 
 a server in communication with said POS terminal and configured to
 receive from said POS terminal, a user identifier transmitted from a mobile communication device communicating via said NFC device, 
 verify an enrollment status of the user identifier received at said server, 
 when the enrollment status of the user identifier is not verified, generate a temporary user identifier to define the user identifier, 
 transmit the temporary user identifier to the mobile communications device via the NFC device and the POS terminal, 
 receive, from the POS terminal, an electronic receipt, 
 store one of the user identifier and the temporary user identifier, and the electronic receipt, 
 receive, from a user and via a user interaction interface of the server, a request including one of the user identifier and the temporary user identifier to access the electronic receipt, 
 permit the user, via the user interaction web interface, to categorize and filter the electronic receipt and a plurality of additional electronic receipts associated with the user identifier, 
 displaying at least one offer to the user, via the user interaction web interface, and based upon data in the electronic receipt and the plurality of additional electronic receipts, and 
 permitting a merchant, via a merchant web interface, to access the electronic receipt and the plurality of additional electronic receipts for the user and at least one additional user; 
 
 said POS terminal configured to provide a paper receipt with the temporary user identifier therein. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic receipt system of  claim 8  wherein said server is configured to store the electronic receipt in association with one of the user identifier and the temporary user identifier. 
     
     
       10. The electronic receipt system of  claim 8  wherein said server is configured to verify the enrollment status of the user identifier by at least:
 receiving a communication including the user identifier; 
 determining the enrollment status of the user identifier; and 
 transmitting a communication to the POS terminal indicative of the enrollment status of the user identifier. 
 
     
     
       11. The electronic receipt system of  claim 8  wherein said server is configured to, based on the status of the user identifier, enable enrollment of the user identifier in the electronic receipt system. 
     
     
       12. The electronic receipt system of  claim 8  wherein said POS terminal is configured to transmit the user identifier and the electronic receipt by at least:
 generating a message including the user identifier and data associated with the electronic receipt; and 
 transmitting the message to the server. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic receipt system of  claim 12  wherein the message is at least one of an XML message, a text format message, or an image. 
     
     
       14. The electronic receipt system of  claim 12 , wherein data associated with the electronic receipt include at least one of an identifier of a product, an identifier of a merchant, a date, a purchase price, and a receipt number. 
     
     
       15. A server operating in an electronic receipt system comprising a point-of-sale (POS) terminal and a near-field communication (NFC) device associated with the POS terminal, the server being in communication with the POS terminal, the server comprising:
 a processor and memory cooperating therewith and configured to
 receive from the POS terminal, a user identifier transmitted from a mobile communication device communicating via the NFC device, 
 verify an enrollment status of the user identifier received, 
 when the enrollment status of the user identifier is not verified, generate a temporary user identifier to define the user identifier, 
 transmit the temporary user identifier to the mobile communications device via the NFC device and the POS terminal, 
 receive, from the POS terminal, an electronic receipt, 
 store one of the user identifier and the temporary user identifier, and the electronic receipt, and 
 receive, from a user and via a user interaction interface of the server, a request including one of the user identifier and the temporary user identifier to access the electronic receipt, the POS terminal configured to provide a paper receipt with the temporary user identifier therein. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The server of  claim 15  wherein said processor and memory are configured to store the electronic receipt in association with one of the user identifier and the temporary user identifier. 
     
     
       17. The server of  claim 15  wherein said processor and memory are configured to verify the enrollment status of the user identifier by at least:
 receiving a communication including the user identifier; 
 determining the enrollment status of the user identifier; and 
 transmitting a communication to the POS terminal indicative of the enrollment status of the user identifier. 
 
     
     
       18. The server of  claim 15  wherein said processor and memory are configured to, based on the status of the user identifier, enable enrollment of the user identifier in the server. 
     
     
       19. The server of  claim 15  wherein said POS terminal is configured to transmit the user identifier and the electronic receipt by at least:
 generating a message including the user identifier and data associated with the electronic receipt; and 
 transmitting the message to the server. 
 
     
     
       20. The server of  claim 19  wherein the message is at least one of an XML message, a text format message, or an image.